Needful Steps

LENA M. HALL

Many of us have read the Bible story of the impotent man lying by the pool of Bethesda, "waiting for the moving of the water," and have, no doubt, felt a yearning sympathy for his disappointed cry, "While I am coming, another steppeth down before me." Thirty-eight years of helplessness, hopelessness, with no apparent goal of freedom! But even while he lay there, perhaps in despair, a strange, new, awakening power was being felt in and around Jerusalem. The sick were being healed; sinners were turning from their evil practices; and even the dead were being raised by this vital, spiritual force.

Rumors of the works of one who was vested with such authority and power may have penetrated to the region about the pool of Bethesda, and may have awakened a degree of expectancy unusual in the minds of the more or less apathetic multitude. Be that as it may, when Christ Jesus asked the searching question, "Wilt thou be made whole?" the impotent man replied, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me."

He may have hoped that Jesus would perform this service for him. But how quickly the Master brushed aside the impotent man's sense of material faith and personal dependence, by showing three things that he himself could do,—yes, must do,—if he would be healed. "Rise," said Jesus; and the man immediately obeyed. "Take up thy bed," the Master said; and as the man did so the evidence of his long infirmity vanished; and then came the third command, "Walk"! And the Bible record shows that this demand also met with instant obedience.

Now the pool of Bethesda, with its multitude of impotent folk, was situated near the sheep market at Jerusalem, and the incident we have been considering took place many centuries ago. Are there any impotent folk "waiting for the moving of the water," so to speak, in the cities of the world to-day? Let us see what can be learned from the attitude of Jesus as set forth in this simple Bible narrative.

The Master did not recognize that there was any special "season" for angel visitants. He knew that God's angels, "spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 581) are always present to trouble the waters of mortal mind with purifying intent and healing effect. He set aside the belief that dependence upon another is necessary to enable anyone to receive the healing message. He who could when necessary transport a boat at once from the middle of a lake to the land would not listen to the time-exalting platitude, "While I am coming, another steppeth down before me." He knew, through his own exalted demonstration, that time is not a necessary factor in the working out of any problem.

The human cry, "I have no man ... to put me into the pool," is expressed to-day by such thoughts as these; There is no practitioner near, to whom I can turn; my family is antagonistic to Christian Science; I have no one to help me with the problem of supply. These, and many other ways of saying, "I have no man ... to put me into the pool," were exposed as wholly deceptive by the incisive commands of Christ Jesus.

"Rise"! Now, right where we are, under whatever circumstance we may be placed, let us lift our thought to behold the absolute truth taught by Christ Jesus, and rediscovered and made plain to this age by Mrs. Eddy. Whoever has an understanding of Christian Science is spiritually equipped to obey that command, without waiting for any special season or any duration of time.

"Take up thy bed"! This bids mortals remove from their thought every temptation to look back on infirmity or incapacity in any direction. "Walk"! How impossible it would be not to advance, to make good progress, after humbly and promptly obeying the two commands which preceded this final throwing open of the door of opportunity for instantaneous healing! Is it any wonder that "the same day was the sabbath" at the pool of Bethesda? Shall not we too experience an eternal Sabbath when we become wholly willing to walk, as our Leader says (Science and Health, p. 535), "through the open gate of Christian Science into the heaven of Soul, into the heritage of the first born among men"?

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit